For the Ignatian Center's signature programs, the COVID-19 Spring Quarter restrictions have created some unique challenges. Through the commitment, flexibility, and creativity of the Ignatian Center team, we continue to exemplify the mission of Jesuit education.

Arrupe Engagement places SCU students in the community to learn through hands-on experience with non-profit organizations, fulfilling the Experiential Learning for Social Justice (ELSJ) component of SCU’s Core curriculum. During this “hands off” time of social distancing, how is it possible for students to engage with these community partners?

“When the University made the decision to hold classes on-line, we knew we had to rethink the program,” explains Dr. Jen Merritt, Director of Community-based Learning at the Ignatian Center. 

“We met with our key partners; the Office of the Provost, the faculty teaching ELSJ courses, and community partner staff to consider the ways in which students might use virtual platforms to serve our surrounding community, especially in light of the enhanced needs presented by the Covid-19 outbreak.”

Together with these partners, the entire Community-based Learning team collaborated to reimagine how to continue the good work of the program, and provide SCU students, SCU faculty, and community partners with a meaningful alternative during this extraordinary time. Through a variety of offerings, students enrolled in ELSJ courses this quarter will be able to complete the requirement, albeit in a new, reimagined way.

Starting the first week of the quarter, SCU students will: 

• listen to the recorded testimony of people who are delivering services on the front lines in support of marginalized populations

• attend live-stream meetings and Zoom calls with neighborhood residents seeking grass-roots solutions to issues ranging from food insecurity to mental health crises

• respond to the needs of those served by community partners with options ranging from online tutoring in K-12 to assisting with food distribution

Through this collaborative effort, SCU students and faculty will continue to benefit from the wisdom, creativity, and dedication of our community partners.

“The generosity of everyone we spoke with was inspiring,” Merritt continues.

“I have always had such admiration for our community-based partners, and now, even more than ever, I am in awe of their dedication and their willingness to place themselves at risk in order to serve the common good in our neighborhood and beyond.”

How do you provide programming and community when a Shelter in Place order is in effect? You get creative. With all events - University and otherwise - canceled, Bannan Forum Director, Aaron Willis, did just that to develop ways to continue delivering programming and creating community.

"The vision and mission of Bannan Forum is to promote and make accessible the comprehensive humanism of the Jesuit intellectual heritage in the context of contemporary global realities,” explains Willis.

“This mission is especially critical during this time of shelter in place, as it provides opportunities for the SCU community to stay connected and find inspiration in the Ignatian tradition of SCU.”

Bannan Forum programming will continue throughout Spring quarter, through the following offerings:

Bannan Fellows: While we have cancelled our public facing programs led by our Fellows, the group continues to meet via Zoom to discuss key readings related to the mission of Santa Clara. In addition, the Fellows are continuing to write for the upcoming issue of explore.

In Pursuit of Human Flourishing Reading Group: This faculty and staff reading group began last quarter and focuses on defining and exploring the concept of human flourishing. The group reads texts from a variety of intellectual and religious traditions in order to understand them more deeply and find ways to enhance their work and lives.

explore Journal: The production of our next issue of the explore Journal is underway with an expected publish date of Fall 2020.

Search for What Matters: We are working to recreate this popular series this quarter through short interviews with administrators, faculty, and staff across the University.

Mission Mondays: This new offering is for faculty and staff and will highlight the breadth and depth of the Jesuit educational tradition and mission through a series of short readings, follow-up questions, possible video content, and short reflections on the content from SCU faculty and staff.

With the cancelation of all University-related travel for the Spring and Summer quarters, our Immersions team went right to the source - SCU students - to find ways to keep them engaged and inspired.

“We sent a survey to all current SCU students who'd previously participated in immersions to learn how they would most like to stay engaged in the program,” explains Charles Mansour, Immersions Director.

“We received input from over 50 students expressing enthusiasm about staying connected to the immersion values of community, spirituality, social justice, and simplicity. Several students even offered to help facilitate online offerings, like reading groups and social justice based conversations." 

Through a variety of offerings, students are able to connect, reflect, and consider their place in this new, challenging situation.

Host Organization Conversations: We’ve been in communication with our host organizations, particularly our Spring Break and Summer Break partners to learn about how COVID-19 has been impacting their communities. We are hosting Zoom interviews with the host leaders and posting them to our Instagram stories and IGTV @scuignatiancenter. 

Virtual Small Groups: As a product of the student surveys and conversations with student leaders, we have formed 3 virtual small groups:

• Just Mercy Book Group will read about mass incarceration in the USA
• The Line Becomes a River Book Group will read about immigration
  
• Social Justice Small Group will focus on different themes of social justice, weaving the Ignatian tradition into those conversations

Social Media: There’s no better way to connect with our students than through Social Media. Starting the week of April 6, we began a series of Instagram Stories focused on the pillars of the Immersion program - community, social justice, spirituality, and simplicity. Each day we provided 3 opportunities for engagement - a reflection, an interactive offering, and finally an invitation into action. We will continue posting weekly live prayers/meditations throughout the Spring quarter.  

Jean Donovan Fellowship: We are connecting with all of our committed JDFs for this coming summer and encouraging them to only seek local placements. 

The core of the Thriving Neighbors program is centered on community relationships in the Greater Washington neighborhood of San Jose. In the midst of social distancing and remote work, maintaining these relationships is of utmost importance. Our Thriving Neighbors team has been hard at work creating ways in which to keep those connections thriving.

MOBI / Thriving Neighbors Class Updates: After many conversations with MOBI participants regarding the current shelter in place, the Thriving Neighbors team decided to take the MOBI course online. 

“The course was only a few sessions away from completion and all participants were excited to finish,"  explains Irene Cermeño, Senior Program Director of Thriving Neighbors.

The team hosted two virtual sessions focused on teaching participants how to navigate the new online platform Zoho, which they were able to do successfully. The final two sessions of the courses will focus on marketing and expenses, permitting, and getting businesses off the ground. In the final session, students will present a PowerPoint pitching their business models. 

Participants have until April 30 to take and pass the final exam with a score of 80% or higher. As of April 16, 7 of the 15 participants have done so early, with an average score of 93.55%!

 Leadership Committee: The leadership committee of the Greater Washington community has been very supportive of Thriving Neighbors programming, so the team worked with those leaders to find creative ways to continue supporting each other.  

“We worked closely with the leaders to increase our ability to communicate with each other using various platforms,” says Cermeño.

“We tested a number of different apps and ultimately, after a few days of trial and error, we can proudly say that all community members are now successful Zoom users!”

Through weekly check-ins, the Thriving Neighbors team meets with community leaders to discuss how they are doing, what they have found to be effective in supporting themselves and their families, what challenges they are facing, but most importantly, how they can support and lift one another given the difficult and unpredictable times. In addition, the leadership committee is engaging with SCU students via Zoom to discuss the impact the pandemic is having on the community as it relates to access to healthcare, education, and resources.

Moving forward, the Thriving Neighbors team will host 5 meetings spaced throughout the remainder of the academic year, focusing on creative ways the university and the GW community can engage given the current circumstances and planning for the 2020-2021 academic year.